HANG TIME HEADQUARTERS — With fifteen combined losses, a coaching change and plenty of issues still needing to be resolved, it’s safe to say that both the Los Angeles Lakers and Indiana Pacers have begun this season in ways no one expected from either of these supposed contenders.

Their struggles, both on and off the court, could be construed by some as character-building hurdles for teams on their way to bigger and better things. On the flip side, the flaws we’ve seen through this first month of the regular season could also be a preview of what’s in store for two teams that need to reveal their true identities before the calendar flips to 2013.

Tonight’s matchup between the Lakers and Pacers in Los Angeles (10:30 ET, League Pass) could be billed as the disappointment bowl, what with the Pacers (6-8 and losers of seven of their last 11 games) dragging themselves across the country to face a Lakers team (7-7) fighting to stay around the .500 mark as they transition from Mike Brown‘s Princeton offense-based system to Mike D’Antoni‘s up-tempo attack.

How these two teams reached this point of the season with such underwhelming results is a bit of a mystery given all of the expectations heaped upon both of them. The high expectations for Indiana were forged after its near breakthrough effort against the Miami Heat in the East semifinals last season. For L.A., the expectations grew after its summer acquisitions of Steve Nash and Dwight Howard.

Neither team has been able to harness the momentum needed to push their way into the elite category this season. The Lakers blew things up after five games and still can’t decide if they’re going to get serious about becoming a championship team or continue clowing around as if all they need is a little more time — and a healthy Nash back in the lineup — to correct whatever is wrong.

Still, the Lakers appear to have an easier road back to respectability. When Nash returns, D’Antoni will have his favorite trigger man at the controls of his offense, theoretically making life better for Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and everyone else. They’ll have a chance to find a comfort zone throughout the holiday season while getting all their big stars aligned and in a collective groove.

“We’re doing it without (Nash), who is kind of the engine that is going to drive us forward,” D’Antoni said. “So we’re going to have some bumps along the road.”

Steve Blake (strained abdomen) did not practice. He continues to be listed as day-to-day.

Nash and Blake have been ruled out for Tuesday’s game against the Indiana Pacers.

“I told (Nash) and I told Steve Blake … we’ve got 68 games left,” D’Antoni said. “I’d rather them play (the) 61 final games instead of them playing six and then missing 20 and then playing the rest of them.

“It’s important that they keep progressing. Whether they play Tuesday or Friday or next Saturday, it doesn’t really matter where (they come back). It’s that when they play, the rest of the time they’re ready to roll.”

Things aren’t quite as simple for the Pacers, who not only have to play without Danny Granger (knee) for three months, but also have to contend with one of the league’s toughest early season schedules. Twelve of their first 18 games will be played on the road, a factor coach Frank Vogel is working hard to manage for a team that seems a bit shell-shocked that at their struggles thus far.

“I encouraged our guys to keep any frustrations in perspective and understand we play 41 at home and 41 on the road,” Vogel told the Indianapolis Star. “We’re weathering the storm of an early tough part of our schedule … Just manage it, stay in the hunt and we’ll have our run. It could happen now; it could happen later.”

The Pacers were supposed to have a clear path to the Central Division title after the Bulls lost All-Star point guard Derrick Rose for the majority of the season due to his ACL injury suffered in the 2012 playoffs.

The Bulls have done their part, but it’s the Milwaukee Bucks, not the Pacers, who have stepped into the void early on.

14 Comments

At least we got a team. What’s your team? The Manila Wannabes? We’ll support our City in both the bad times and the good times. Although we are having a crisis right now, we’re thankful that we have one of the legendary teams to have ever played in the NBA, Celtics being the other. And no the Heat is not, although they have a chance to be in about 15 more championships.

Here we go, I can’t wait to hear what the whining fans has to say now. “Mike Dantoni, fire him, see WE should have got the zen master phil. Oh God, my world is falling apart. BRING BACK PHIL! BRING BACK PHIL! BRING BACK PHIL!” I’m expecting to hear that chant at Staples very soon. Rally the whining Lakerland fans and boycott until Phil comes back. Good, let the smart lakerland fans get those tickets. Here’s the reality, the Lakers had 40 plus free throws attempt compared to the Pacers 20 plus free throw attempt. If the Lakers made about 70% of their attempts, they would of won by 7-8 points.
Lakers had their chances with Howard and Artest at the free throw line to tie and take the lead (yes, not MWP, Artest just sounds cooler). The bench is not productive at all and Kobe had to play hero ball again. Lakers will be okay and getting consistent once the team gets healthier. Whining Lakerland fans, keep your fantasy trades and thought of Phil coming back to yourself. This is part of the building process for any team early in the season.

Hahaha! Kobe putting up amazing numbers agian, and just got another stat Lebron will never get. 10 TO to go with 10 Reb and 40 PTs in a loss. Please don’t give me that flu excuse either. Anyone who know’s they’re sick and is supposed to have good bball IQ is not going to make that many bad plays and hurt his team…my bad, Kobe would because he doesn’t care about the team; just wants to go for the scoring title since he knows he can’t get a championship.

Wahahaha how come I can’t see don’t you ever click my name anY more wahahahaah that’s ryt don’t you ever click my name STFU!!!! Bragging about your super team, now what you got is a bunch of Losser!!!!!!! Wahahaha
We will win a championship this year lakers wahahaha or we will win the champion of WHINERS wahahahah got that WHINERS wahahaha

Ever since they were the third seed in the east and were up 2-1 agains Miami, they have the second best defense statisicaly in the leauge right now. our offense has gotten better these last couple games,once it’s consistent we’ll be fine. We are fine. pacerpride. # goldswagger

There is no way the Pacers are real contenders, I don’t care who they beat in the regular season, and as a MAJOR Heat I wasn’t worried at all last year when the Pacer’s went up 2-1. I knew that night the Heat would not lose again and they didn’t. Besides they barely got outta the 1st round.